Goondiwindi crackdown: Inspector weighs in after number of cross-border arrests

After an operation on the Queensland-NSW border resulted in a number of arrests, the region’s top cop has revealed what police will do in the future to address crime in the Southern Downs.

A cross border blitz has nabbed a number of offenders (Photo: Queensland Police)

The Southern Down’s top cop has weighed in after a crackdown on crime across the Goondiwindi-Boggabilla area in recent days.

Crime has been the central issue for the border communities and a recent police operation in the region has demonstrated the power of co-ordinated efforts between Queensland police and their NSW counterparts.

Six have been charged since the operation launched at the beginning of the month.

Warwick Inspector Kelly Hanlen said she looked forward to further collaboration between officers on either side of the border following the success of the operation.

“We successful collaborated with NSW detectives and we worked together cross-border to target and crackdown known offenders across the border,” Inspector Hanlen said.

“Often, the people we’re looking for are the same people they’re looking for. We already collaborate a lot but this crackdown was to find some offenders that are outstanding.

“It was effective in locating people that were wanted, what you’ve seen with Taskforce Guardian and both sets of detectives hasn’t happened before, it was the first time for a major cross-collaboration.”

Inspector Hanlen said crime has “definitely de-escalated” since she started the job in August and that the ability to put more staff out there has had a major benefit.

“The uniform presence has definitely made a difference as it is hard to predict, but Goondiwindi is a really supportive community so having an extra presence is good for them to see us and feel safe.”

Warwick Inspector Kelly Hanlen said (Photo: NRM)

Despite the crackdown, a number of offences were recorded from the end of last month to this week.

In the early hours of October 24, three truck drivers were assaulted while asleep in their cabs and a fourth was threatened, before the alleged offender believed to be the same person fled in a suspected stolen vehicle.

A NSW police spokeswoman said a 36-year-old man told New England Police District officers he had been asleep in the cab of his truck when he was threatened by an offender with a knife who demanded money.

It is understood the thief then fled the scene with a wallet and jewellery in the stolen Jeep Cherokee.

On the evening of October 27, a 19-year-old Brisbane man was charged for assault occasioning bodily harm on a staff member at McDonald’s.

Multiple truck drivers were violently assaulted while they slept in their cabins behind servo’s and rest areas near the Queensland-NSW border. Photo: Maps

The offender will appear at the Goondiwindi Magistrates Court in coming weeks.

Overnight on November 3, a local service station was broken into and several items were stolen. The vehicle used was stolen from Inglewood and was also used to do a ram raid on a service station in Yelarbon.

It has been confirmed that investigations are continuing into these matters.

Here’s the full list of offenders that got stung in the policing blitz:

Police arrested a 45-year-old Goondiwindi man for indecent treatment of a child. He is to appear at the magistrates court at Goondiwindi.

A number of offenders have been stung across the border in a snap police operation. (Photo: Queensland Police)

A 42-year-old Boggabilla man was arrested for stealing and obstruct police.

An 18-year-old Goondiwindi man was given drug diversion after a search warrant was conducted at his residence in Bowen Street.

A 42-year-old Boggabilla man was arrested for two stalk and intimidate, one breach bail and one possess prohibited drug.

A 16-year-old Boggabilla boy was arrested and extradited to Queensland on 13 property related offences that occurred in Goondiwindi. The charges included three armed robberies, two unlawful use of a motor vehicle, enter premises and serious assault of a person aged over 60 years.

A 32-year-old Boggabilla women was arrested for assault and breaching a domestic violence order.

Originally published as Goondiwindi crackdown: Inspector weighs in after number of cross-border arrests